Study Results and Discussion
Clinical measures of ankle dorsiflexion indicated an increase in Dorsiflexion ability for the affected limb from 4-10° between visits with a 2.5 cm increase in knee to wall ability.
Biomechanical measures indicated increased range of motion up to 1.26° while walking straight, 15.5 mm deeper squat depth and increased toe clearance. Following intervention, participants achieved dorsiflexion ability in their affected limb similar to the healthy limb, indicating restored use of their ankle joints. These initial results are promising for the use of the Ankle Flex device to help restore ankle function following injury.
Significance
This work describes a stretching based intervention device for the improvement of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion following injury. Ankle Flex allows for manual therapy in the patient’s home, reducing dependency on a physical therapist for treatment. Use of the device could help individuals regain functional motion in their ankle as well as reduce future risk of falling through increased toe clearance.
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Patent No.: US 11,890,503 B2
This new and useful invention was awarded a US patent in February 2024.
As a Physical Therapist, Esther Smith’s intention in creating Ankle Flex is to offer users the gentle feel of the manual therapy technique and allow for frequent use both during and outside of physical therapy visits in the user’s home or gym. Over a decade of refining and testing the design has led to a product that is comfortable, convenient and effective.
Ankle Flex’s patented engineering delivers ankle dorsiflexion repetition with a sustained (anteroposterior) talar bone mobilization and restores the normal joint kinematics. It combines a pull force to the distal leg (posteroanterior) through the calf cuff while simultaneously stabilizing the foot and talus on the foot plate.